P.A. 'Furious' Over Netanyahu's AIPAC Speech

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Netanyahu's speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference Tuesday "sparked a furious reaction" from the Palestinian Authority, Agence France Presse, reported.

In his speech, Netanyahu said Israel and the Palestinians had a lot to gain from peace and called on the Palestinians to "stop denying history" regarding Israel's historic, biblical connection to the Land. He also challenged the Palestinians to stand on the "right side of the moral divide." 

According to AFP, the speech "effectively put the final nail in the coffin of the U.S.-led peace talks."

P.A. senior official Nabil Shaath called it "an official announcement of a unilateral end to negotiations," saying the Palestinians "totally rejected" Israel's right to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman, told the P.A. official Wafa news agency the same thing.

"Netanyahu's continued demand [to recognize] a Jewish state is a waste of time and [meant] to avoid a just and comprehensive peace agreement," Rudeineh reportedly said.